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When looking for the perfect camera for the student in your life, we think four details should take center stage: ease of use, image quality, style, and price. An easy-to-use camera is just right for students, for whom this will likely be a first camera. But just because a camera's easy to use doesn't mean you have to compromise on image quality. Of course, something that looks "cool" is likely to be important to any kid, and if the camera doesn't break the bank, all the better.

We've selected four digital cameras that meet our criteria and would be good choices for students. Each has its own pros and cons, but any of them will make a great gift.

The Canon PowerShot SD300 Digital Elph is at the head of the class, and it's an obvious choice for students. It's small and light enough to slip into a shirt pocket, has a very reasonable price, and, most importantly, takes great pictures. We also appreciate the inclusion of an optical viewfinder, which is critical for shooting outside on sunny days. The 4MP SD300 has everything an entry-level camera should have, and crams it into a tiny stylish body.

Epson's 5MP L-500V is another great-looking point-and-shoot, and comes at a good price. The camera sports a gorgeous 2.5-inch LCD, and though controls are limited, we really like the L-500V's burst mode. If you're looking for an affordable compact camera for a beginning shooter, this is a good choice.

Though it's a bit pricier than the aforementioned Canon and Epson cameras, the 5MP Casio Exilim EX-S500 makes up for it, with its super-slim design, great image quality, and tons of features. We especially like the MPEG-4 movie mode, which lets you capture a lot more video to your memory card than the more-typical Motion-JPEG video format. Style-conscious shooters will dig the three color choices and "electrical coating" finish, and the EX-S500 has more than 30 easily accessible scene modes for beginning shooters.

And for the sports nuts, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15 is the perfect camera for game day. The bulky body and large lens have a professional look and feel to them, though you won't be able to fit this camera in your pocket. The 12X optical zoom gets you close to the action on the field, and the quick recycle time ensures you won't miss that perfect shot. It's a superzoom, so it's a bit more expensive than the other cameras here, but if you're looking for a camera with more control and a long zoom, the DMC-FZ15 is one of our favorites.

Compare these cameras side by side in our comparison table, and follow the links below to the full reviews.

In this roundup:

Canon PowerShot SD300 Digital Elph
The SD300 has been around for a while, but it continues to reign as our Editors' Choice, due to its combination of small size and superb image quality. The price tag is icing on the cake.

Casio Exilim EX-S500
The EX-S500 has everything a student could want: Stylish looks, great image quality, and an easy-to-use feature set. The only hindrance is the relatively high price.

Epson L-500V
This 5-megapixel beauty has a gorgeous 2.5-inch LCD, and picture quality is good, too. The L-500V is a great choice for an affordable, compact camera.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15
This is the camera you'll want on game day. The DMC-FZ15 has a long zoom and a short recycle time, which makes it perfect for capturing action on the field.

Kyle Monson is the Senior Editor for PCMag.com. He oversees and edits PCMag.com’s home page and product news coverage, and helps out with site maintenance and editing. He also oversees feature projects like the Top 100 Web Sites, and writes reviews and news stories.
Kyle is the Founding Editor of AppScout, a PCMag.com-affiliated blog covering software and Web applications.
Before joining the PC Magazine staff, Kyle wrote for Newsweek and several daily newspapers. He has a BA in Communications (Print Journalism) from Brigham Young University.
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